We were gifted an old Singer 201k sewing machine, which worked fine and good condition. Oiled it recently and then for some reason the machine started to run by itself and at full speed too!

So I disconnected it from the mains. Hubby said it was probably because of lint in the foot pedal so he opened the foot pedal and blasted it with compressed air can.

The transformer block? I think it is? In the middle big block may be resistor or something? It seems to have dried on really stuck on lint or something I can't remove (but machine worked fine before anyway)

Hubby put pedal back together screwed two screws back in. Plugged everything back in and now no power :(

What could be the problem?? Help please!

Jane Ellseeworth, June 2012

It's a line filter capacitor, it's a paper capacitor and is used to suppress the noise generated when the pedal is pressed and also prevent arcing across the carbon with in the pedal. The pedal consists of carbon discs, loosely fitted and when the pedal is pressed the carbon presses against each other, this generates noise. This is where the cap comes into play. This type of capacitor has a high value of surge voltage capability.
Just get a paper cap or induction motor starting cap rated properly and you'll be fine.
Please do not use any different type since those ones cannot withstand back EMF from the motor.

You could try here:

http://www.audiocap.co.uk/

Ring them up and ask them.

Gash., June 2012

You need to put new capacitors in the foot control Jane. I don't think they are even soldered. Maplin's will tell you which ones.

Alf Hart, you sound like a toss-pot!

Gash., June 2012

Hi! I'm Jane's husband. Haha I guess I deserve a slapped wrist.

Ok well the machine is powered again but still has the same problem with it going full power after a few minutes of not being used.

There is a central rheostat with an arm that goes up and down it to control power. There's also a capacitor at the other end.

Should I just desolder it and remove it? What about the wires leading to it?

Richard, June 2012

there is a square or round component between the two wires on your footcontrol.if you remove this and make sure connections are good,control should work again.if not you can replace it with normal two wire foot control quite cheaply

johan, June 2012

To be honest Jane it seems to me like your problem is your husband playing around with things he doesn't understand.If he insists on playing with tools then Toys R Us have a good deal on Fisher Price tool sets...he should cause less damage with those.

Alf Hart, June 2012